Startup profile · funding coverage
Run the World funding, valuation and investors
Virtual events platform with cocktail-party networking, acquired by EventMobi in 2023.
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Funding, valuation & investors
Answer-first snapshotLatest funding
Series A
undisclosed · May 2020
Latest known valuation
Not publicly disclosed
Total disclosed equity funding
Not publicly disclosed
Excludes debt, grants, acquisitions, secondaries, and IPO proceeds.
Current status
acquired
series a
Overview
Run The World was a virtual events platform offering cocktail-party-style networking, breakout rooms, and interactive sessions for online conferences. Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person events halted, the platform raised a Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz with Founders Fund, Pear VC, and GGV Capital participating. Run The World gained traction for replicating serendipitous conference networking in virtual formats. EventMobi acquired Run The World in August 2023 and shut down the standalone service by September 2023, integrating select capabilities into EventMobi's event platform. The rise and shutdown reflects the post-COVID return to in-person events and consolidation in virtual event technology.
Why Run the World is interesting
Run The World peaked during COVID remote events with a16z and Founders Fund backing — EventMobi acquired and shut down the service by September 2023.
Product & use cases
Run The World hosted virtual conferences with cocktail-party-style networking, breakout rooms, and interactive sessions designed to replicate in-person event serendipity.
- Virtual conferences with structured networking sessions
- Online summits with breakout rooms and expo halls
- Remote team events with interactive social features
Key facts
- Series A (May 2020): led by a16z with Founders Fund, Pear VC, GGV (Indexed.vc)
- Acquired by EventMobi (Aug 2023); service shut down Sep 2023
- COVID-era virtual events with cocktail-party networking
- Peaked during pandemic remote event boom
Funding history (newest first)
Series A
2020-05 undisclosedInvestors in our directory
Funds linked from Run the World's profile — open a fund page for stage focus and related deal articles.
Competitive landscape
Edge: Cocktail-party networking UX differentiated from webinar-style platforms (Zoom) during COVID virtual event boom.
Virtual event platforms exploded during COVID and contracted sharply as in-person events returned. Hopin, Run The World, and others faced shutdowns or pivots. EventMobi's acquisition-and-shutdown pattern reflects limited standalone value for virtual-only event tech post-pandemic.
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Hopin direct
Virtual event platform; also declined post-COVID and restructured.
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Zoom Events incumbent
Video conferencing with event features; less networking-focused.
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EventMobi adjacent
Acquired Run The World; broader event management platform.
Notable stories
- Run The World launched during COVID when conferences went virtual, offering cocktail-party networking that Zoom webinars couldn't replicate — then EventMobi acquired and shut it down as in-person events returned (Indexed.vc).
Industries
Related funding articles
Venture Capital Tracker pieces that cover Run the World's financing or category context.
FAQs about Run the World
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